Love thinks no evil
All this shows a manifest lack of that love which thinks no evil (1 Corinthians 13:5): which never draws an unjust or unkind conclusion from any premises whatever. Love will not infer, from a person's falling once into an act of open sin, that he is accustomed to do so, that he is habitually guilty of it. And if he was habitually guilty once, love does not conclude he is so still: much less, that if he is now guilty of this, therefore he is guilty of other sins also. These evil reasonings all pertain to that sinful judging which our Lord here guards us against, and which we are in the highest degree concerned to avoid, if we love either God or our own souls.
1771 text
11. All this shews a manifest want of that love, which οὑ λογίζεται κακόν· thinketh no evil: which never draws an unjust or unkind conclusion, from any premisses whatsoever. Love will not infer, from a person’s falling once into an act of open sin, that he is accustomed so to do, that he is habitually guilty of it. And if he was habitually guilty once, love does not conclude, he is so still: much less, that if he is now guilty of this, therefore he is guilty of other sins also. These evil reasonings all pertain to that sinful judging, which our Lord here guards us against: and which we are in the highest degree concerned to avoid, if we love either God or our own souls.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 30 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 7:1-12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.